U.S. patent application number 09/939547 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-28 for polymer fuse and filter apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to X2Y Attenuators, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Anthony, Anthony A..
Application Number | 20020024787 09/939547 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22897358 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020024787 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anthony, Anthony A. |
February 28, 2002 |
POLYMER FUSE AND FILTER APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a polymer fuse apparatus that
provides bypass fuse protection. A polymer bypass fuse is comprised
of an electrical conductor wherein a portion of the conductor is
surrounded by an internal electrode, which is then surrounded by a
layer of polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material,
which is then surrounded by a conductive material similar to that
of the internal electrode. Various hybrid combinations are also
contemplated where in-line and/or bypass fuses are combined with
other circuit components. One example is, a plurality of in-line
and bypass fuses combined with a differential and common mode
filter, which itself consists of a plurality of common ground
conductive plates maintaining first and second electrode plates
between the various conductive plates, all of which are surrounded
by a material having predetermined electrical characteristics to
provide fail safe filter and circuit protection.
Inventors: |
Anthony, Anthony A.; (Erie,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAHN LOESER & PARKS, LLP
TWIN OAKS ESTATE
1225 W. MARKET STREET
AKRON
OH
44313
US
|
Assignee: |
X2Y Attenuators, L.L.C.
|
Family ID: |
22897358 |
Appl. No.: |
09/939547 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09939547 |
Aug 24, 2001 |
|
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|
09583831 |
May 31, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01C 7/021 20130101;
H01C 7/028 20130101; H02H 9/026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/106 |
International
Class: |
H02H 005/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electrode and fuse arrangement comprising; a plurality of
electrodes arranged spaced-apart from one another by a material
having predetermined properties; a first electrode of the plurality
of electrodes positioned below a second electrode of the plurality
of electrodes; a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes
positioned above the second electrode; a fourth electrode of the
plurality of electrodes positioned above the third electrode; a
fifth electrode of the plurality of electrodes positioned above the
fourth electrode; the first electrode, the third electrode and the
fifth electrode are conductively coupled to one another; the second
electrode and the fourth electrode are conductively isolated from
each other; a first fuse and a second fuse; the first fuse is
conductively coupled to the second electrode; the second fuse is
conductively coupled to the fourth electrode; the first fuse and
the second fuse are conductively isolated from each other; and
wherein the first electrode, the third electrode and the fifth
electrode are conductively isolated from the second electrode, the
fourth electrode, the first fuse, and the second fuse.
2. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 1, wherein the third
electrode is the central electrode of the plurality of
electrodes.
3. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first
electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are of
substantially the same size; and wherein the second electrode and
the fourth electrode are of substantially the same size.
4. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 1 operable as a
bypass arrangement.
5. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 2, wherein the first
electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are of
substantially the same size; wherein the second electrode and the
fourth electrode are of substantially the same size; and wherein
the second electrode and the fourth electrode are each smaller than
either the first electrode, the third electrode or the fifth
electrode.
6. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first
electrode, the third electrode and the fifth electrode are of
substantially the same size; wherein the second electrode and the
fourth electrode are of substantially the same size; wherein the
second electrode and the fourth electrode are each smaller than
either the first electrode, the third electrode or the fifth
electrode; and wherein the third electrode is the central electrode
of the plurality of electrodes.
7. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 2, wherein the
material having predetermined properties is a material having
dielectric properties.
8. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 2, wherein the
material having predetermined properties is a material having
ferrite properties.
9. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 2, wherein the
material having predetermined properties is a material having
varistor properties.
10. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 6, wherein the
material having predetermined properties is a material having
dielectric properties.
11. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 6, wherein the
material having predetermined properties is a material having
ferrite properties.
12. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 6, wherein the
material having predetermined properties is a material having
varistor properties.
13. The electrode and fuse arrangement of claim 1, wherein either
the first fuse or the second fuse comprises a material that
responds with increased resistance to energy propagation as the
average relative temperature of the material is increased.
14. A circuit comprising at least the common electrode and fuse
arrangement of claim 6.
15. A common and differential mode filtering arrangement with fuses
comprising; a plurality of common electrodes arranged spaced-apart
and conductively coupled to one another, and wherein each common
electrode of the plurality of common electrodes is of substantially
the same size; a pair of electrodes arranged spaced-apart and
conductively isolated from each other, and wherein each electrode
of the pair of electrodes is of substantially the same size; a pair
of fuses arranged spaced-apart and conductively isolated from each
other; a material having predetermined properties; a first common
electrode of the plurality of common electrodes is supported by a
first portion of the material having predetermined properties; a
first electrode of the pair of electrodes is supported by a second
portion of the material having predetermined properties; the first
common electrode and the first portion of the material having
predetermined properties are positioned below the first electrode
and the second portion of the material having predetermined
properties; a second common electrode of the plurality of common
electrodes supported by a third portion of the material having
predetermined properties is positioned above the first electrode; a
second electrode of the pair of electrodes supported by a fourth
portion of the material having predetermined properties is
positioned above the second common electrode; a third common
electrode of the plurality of common electrodes supported by a
fifth portion of the material having predetermined properties is
positioned above the second electrode; a first fuse of the pair of
fuses is conductively coupled to the first electrode; a second fuse
of the pair of fuses is conductively coupled to the second
electrode; any one common electrode of the plurality of common
electrodes is larger than any one electrode of the pair of
electrodes; and wherein any one common electrode of the plurality
of common electrodes is conductively isolated from both the pair of
electrodes and the pair of fuses.
16. The common and differential mode filtering arrangement with
fuses of claim 15, wherein the second common electrode of the
plurality of common electrodes is the central electrode of the
plurality of common electrodes.
17. The common and differential mode filtering arrangement with
fuses of claim 16, wherein the material having predetermined
properties is a material having either predominately dielectric
properties, or predominately ferrite properties, or predominately
varistor properties.
18. The common and differential mode filtering arrangement with
fuses of claim 15, wherein any one common electrode of the
plurality of common electrodes is larger than any one electrode of
the pair of electrodes.
19. The common and differential mode filtering arrangement with
fuses of claim 15, wherein any one fuse of the pair of fuses
comprises a material that responds with increased resistance to
energy propagation as the average relative temperature of the
material is increased.
20. A circuit comprising at least the common and differential mode
filtering arrangement with fuses of claim 15.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application
Ser. No. 09/583,831 filed May 31, 2000, which is a divisional of
application Ser. No. 09/238,312 filed Jan. 28, 1999, now issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 6,157,528. Application Ser. Nos. 09/238,312 and
09/583,831 are hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to polymeric positive
temperature coefficient (PTC) over current protection devices and
more specifically with a polymeric over current protection device
an in-line and/or bypass fuse which can also be within a self
contained component which combines a plurality of in-line and/or
bypass fuses with additional electronic circuitry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Abnormally high currents or over currents have the potential
to destroy electrical circuitry and equipment plus become a
safety/shock hazard to people. For years electrical equipment has
been protected through the use of fuses or circuit breakers. The
typical fuse has an internal by-metallic conductor through which
current passes. If the current through the system exceeds the rated
value of the fuse, the by-metallic conductor will begin to melt. If
the over current continues, eventually the by-metallic conductor
will melt through thereby breaking the current path between the
supply and the load. Circuit breakers break the current path
between the power source and the load just as the fuse except that
in the case of the circuit breaker an electromagnet in the device
draws a connecting metallic link out of the circuit when current
levels exceed rated conditions thereby opening the current
path.
[0004] While typical fuses are effective in protecting electrical
equipment they must be replaced once the by-metallic conductor has
melted thereby proving not to be cost effective, both with regard
to replacement and maintenance costs. Circuit breakers on the other
hand are reusable but are typically more expensive than fuses and
still require user intervention to reset them once an over current
has been corrected.
[0005] An improvement over by-metallic fuses and circuit breakers
is the polymeric (positive temperature coefficient) PTC device
which protects circuits by going from a low to a high resistance
state in response to an over current. Polymeric PTC devices respond
to over currents by increasing their resistance as the device's
temperature increases due to the generation of heat within the
device from power dissipation. The advantage these devices provide
is that once the over current condition has been corrected and the
devices temperature decreases to its normal operating point, its
resistance will decrease in effect resetting the device. Polymeric
PTC devices provide the compact dimensions provided by fuses with
the ability to be reused as provided by circuit breakers. These
devices have the added advantage of being automatically reset once
normal operating conditions in a circuit are restored.
[0006] To date, polymeric PTC devices have been manufactured in
standard electronic packaging, similar to a disk capacitor, in
which the polymeric material is encapsulated in a disk shaped
enclosure with two wire leads extending therefrom. This type of
packaging is designed for through hole circuit board mounting.
While this configuration protects circuitry from over current
conditions, the through hole wire leads and associated copper
tracks and wiring used to connect the polymer PTC devices cause
another problem, that being radiated emissions of electromagnetic
noise.
[0007] The wire leads and copper tracks used by the polymeric PTC
devices are effected by two different types of conductive currents,
differential mode and common mode. The fields generated by these
currents create the radiated emissions. Differential mode currents
are currents which flow in a circular path in wires, copper traces,
and other conductors such that the fields associated with these
currents originates from the loop defined by the conductors. Such a
circuit is essentially a loop antenna with the resulting field
being primarily magnetic. Differential mode emissions are typically
found at frequencies below 1 MHz.
[0008] Common mode currents are completely different in nature from
differential mode currents in that they flow in a different circuit
path and dominate at higher frequencies, those typically above 1
MHz. Common mode currents typically return to their source through
parasitic capacitance inherently found in electronic circuits. To
minimize common mode currents between lines, an alternate low
impedance return path for these currents must be provided while
increasing the impedance of the common mode current path.
[0009] A major drawback to differential and common mode filters of
the prior art is that if capacitors failed they would adversely
affect the circuitry they were originally used to filter or
protect. Dependent upon the application, this condition would also
present a safety hazard to humans. To overcome this problem
numerous fuses had to be employed in various configurations to
ensure the electrical conductors to be filtered were protected from
both the filter and other circuitry. Despite the numerous fuses and
inconvenience of using so many fuses, in many applications it was
absolutely necessary to prevent inconvenience or even life
threatening conditions. One example is the use of filters in the
automotive industry. When used to filter differential and common
mode electrical noise from conductors in power steering or power
brakes, filtering improves the overall operation but is not
critical to this operation but if the filter failed and destroyed
surrounding other circuitry, the brake or power steering systems
could become disabled either stranding or endangering the driver if
failure occurred while the vehicle was moving. Because of this it
is critical that any filters used be self protecting in that they
effectively remove themselves from circuitry they were originally
intended to protect upon their failure.
[0010] As a result, one object of the present invention is to
provide in-line and/or bypass fuse protection in a single, compact
electrical device which allows defective circuitry to disconnect or
remove itself from protected circuitry while not presenting a
safety hazard.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
compact hybrid device which combines various types of filter and
surge protection with in-line and/or bypass fuse protection to
improve overall circuit performance and insure that under extreme
conditions partial circuit failure does not damage additional
circuitry.
[0012] It is an additional object of the present invention to
provide a filter apparatus capable of removing itself from
additional circuitry upon its own failure such that continued
operation of the overall system can be maintained in spite of the
filter's failure thereby providing additional safety when used in
conjunction with systems whose failure can endanger human life.
[0013] Therefore, in light of the foregoing deficiencies in the
prior art, Applicant s invention is herein presented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention relates to a polymer fuse apparatus
that provides bypass fuse protection. A polymer bypass fuse is
comprised of an electrical conductor wherein a portion of the
conductor is surrounded by an internal electrode, which is then
surrounded by a layer of polymeric positive temperature coefficient
(PTC) material, which is then surrounded by a conductive material
similar to that of the internal electrode.
[0015] During normal operation the polymeric PTC material is in a
conductive state thereby allowing electrical coupling between the
conductor and the outer conductive material or contact electrode.
If the current through the polymeric PTC material increases beyond
acceptable limits, the polymeric PTC material will become highly
resistive thereby creating an open condition which prevents
conduction. Various hybrid combinations are also contemplated where
in-line and/or bypass fuses are combined with other circuit
components. One example is, a plurality of in-line and bypass fuses
combined with a differential and common mode filter, which itself
consists of a plurality of common ground conductive plates
maintaining first and second electrode plates between the various
conductive plates, all of which are surrounded by a material having
predetermined electrical characteristics to provide filter and
circuit protection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows the polymer fuse of the present invention
wherein
[0017] FIG. 1a is a front elevational view in cross section,
[0018] FIG. 1b is a top plan view of the same and
[0019] FIG. 1c is a schematic representation of the same;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a graph depicting the operating curve for the
polymeric PTC material in the polymer bypass fuse of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view in cross section of a
hybrid polymer bypass fuse having additional electronic
components;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the assembly of FIG.
3 wherein the additional electronic component is a varistor;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the assembly of FIG.
3 wherein the additional electronic component is a capacitor;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a line filter which employs
the polymer bypass fuse shown generally in FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the line filter
depicted in FIG. 6 designed for over current protection;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the line filter
depicted in FIG. 6 designed to suppress electromagnetic from to
differential and common mode currents;
[0027] FIG. 9 is an exploded front elevational view in cross
section of an in-line and bypass fuse;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view in cross section of the
in-line and bypass fuse of FIG. 9;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram which represents electrically
the in-line and bypass fuse shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;
[0030] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a plurality of
in-line and bypass fuses as shown in FIGS. 9 through 11
incorporated within a filter to create a hybrid differential and
common mode filter with in-line and bypass fuse protection;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the electrical
characteristics of the hybrid component shown in FIG. 12;
[0032] FIG. 14 shows an exploded perspective view of a differential
and common mode filter similar to that shown in FIG. 12;
[0033] FIG. 15 provides a schematic diagram of the filter shown in
FIG. 14;
[0034] FIG. 16 provides a schematic representation of the physical
architecture of the filter shown in FIG. 14;
[0035] FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the differential
and common mode filter having in-line and bypass fuse protection;
and
[0036] FIG. 18 is a perspective view in cross-section of the
differential and common mode filter having in-line and bypass fuse
protection as shown in FIG. 17.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0037] FIG. 1 shows polymer bypass fuse 10 which is comprised of
electrical conductor 18 wherein a portion of conductor 18 is
surrounded by internal electrode 16 which is essentially a
conductive material such as metal like copper. Electrode 16 is then
surrounded by a layer of polymeric positive temperature coefficient
(PTC) material 14, which is then itself surrounded by a conductive
material, similar to that of internal electrode 16, which makes up
contact electrode 12. FIG. 1b shows the circular relationship
between conductor 18, internal electrode 16, polymeric PTC material
14 and contact electrode 12. While not crucial, it is best that
each of the layers be uniform so that the radius from conductor 18
to the outer edge of contact electrode 12 is constant in all
directions. FIG. 1c is a schematic representation of bypass fuse 10
as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. Feed through conductor 20 represents
conductor 18 with connection points 22 on either end of conductor
20 being coupling points used to interface bypass fuse 10 with
external circuitry. PTC device 24 is coupled on one end with
conductor 20 with component interface point 26 on the other. PTC
device 24 represents polymeric PTC material 14 and component
interface point 26 represents contact electrode 12.
[0038] In operation, bypass fuse 10 is coupled in series with an
external electronic circuit such that a signal path, for instance a
power supply connection, is connected to conductor 18 to supply
power through bypass fuse 10. Because internal electrode 16 is
conductive and coupled to conductor 18, current traveling through
conductor 18 will also travel through internal electrode 16. At
normal temperatures, PTC material 14 conducts electricity due to
its normally low resistance thereby providing a path from conductor
18 to contact electrode 12. External circuitry can then be coupled
to contact electrode 12 and be supplied with current from conductor
18. This would be one method of coupling a circuit to a power
supply so that if the circuit shorted out current could be
maintained to other circuits tied to the same supply. Bypass fuse
10 provides this type of protection in that if circuit coupled to
contact electrode 12 begins to draw high levels of current, the
internal temperature of bypass fuse 10 will increase thereby
increasing the temperature of PTC material 14 making it highly
resistive. If the temperature reaches a predetermined trip point
PTC material 14 will become substantially non-conductive. The
advantage provided by bypass fuse 10 is that current flow through
conductor 18 is unaffected by the defective circuit which has now
been disconnected from conductor 18 due to the high resistive state
of PTC material 14.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a graph depicting the operating curve for PTC
material 14. PTC material 14, for all practical purposes, has no
resistance in temperatures up to approximately 80.degree. C. Once
at 80.degree. C., onset temperature 30 is reached and PTC material
14 begins to change from its normal crystalline state to an
amorphous state where its resistance begins to increase. As PTC
material 14 continues to increase in temperature it enters
polymeric expansion area 32 where it slowly increases in resistance
in almost a linear fashion as the temperature increases. At
approximately 140.degree. C. current flow interrupt temperature 34
is reached at which PTC point material 14 is primarily resistive
thereby preventing most current flow between internal electrode 16
and contact electrode 12. As the temperature continues to increase,
PTC material 14 will increase in resistance by five decades at
point 36 and then finally reach its peak resistance temperature 38
at approximately 170.degree. C. Once PTC material 14 reaches point
36, substantially no current is flowing through material 14.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows hybrid bypass fuse 50 which incorporates a
polymeric PTC bypass fuse with additional electronic components.
The physical embodiment of bypass fuse 50 in FIG. 3 is shown in
cross section and is represented schematically by FIG. 4 or FIG. 5,
depending upon the makeup of material 58. FIG. 3 is similar to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the addition of material 58 and
insulation 62. As described earlier, conductor 56 passes through
bypass fuse 50 and is electrically coupled to internal electrode
54. PTC material 60 then surrounds a portion of internal electrode
54 with PTC material 60 itself surrounded by dielectric material
58. Depending on its makeup, material 58 when used with internal
electrode 54 and contact electrode 52, forms either a varistor 76
as shown in FIG. 4 or a capacitor 82 as shown in FIG. 5 is formed
in series with PTC device 74. To further protect bypass fuse 50
from damage and its surrounding environment, insulation 62 is added
to seal PTC material 60 and material 58 within contact electrode
52. Insulation 62 also maintains electrical isolation between
contact electrode 52 and conductor 56.
[0041] As described for FIG. 1, PTC material 60, when operated
under normal conditions, allows conduction from conductor 56,
through internal electrode 54 to material 58, internal electrode 54
and contact electrode 52, as shown in FIG. 3, act as parallel
plates separated only by material 58 and PTC material 60. If
material 58 is a material as found in capacitors then FIG. 5
schematically represents the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 consisting
of PTC device 74 coupled in series with capacitor 82, together
coupled from feed through conductor 70 to connection point 78. If
material 58 is a metal oxide or MOV-type material then the
configuration shown in FIG. 4 is representative consisting of PTC
device 74 coupled in series with varistor 76 together coupled from
feed through conductor 70 to connection point 78. In both FIGS. 4
and 5, feed through conductor 70 having feed through connection
points 72 on either end represents conductor 56. PTC device 74
represents material 60 which comes in physical contact with
internal electrode 54 and material 58. The embodiment shown in FIG.
3 is a simple configuration that allows current to flow through
conductor 56 and at the same time allows for coupling of components
to conductor 56 through fuses. This prevents conductor 56 from
being loaded down under abnormal operating conditions by breaking
the electrical connection of additional components while being able
to reset automatically once faulty conditions are corrected.
[0042] FIG. 6 shows bypass fused line-to-line filter 90 which makes
up a line conditioning device which incorporates two polymer bypass
fuses 10 with either differential and common mode filter/over
current protection device 94 or differential and common mode filter
96, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Both differential and common mode
filter/over current protection device 94 and differential and
common mode filter 96 are described in relation to FIGS. 14 through
16 and in Applicant s currently pending application Ser. No.
08/841,940 filed on Apr. 8, 1997 which is incorporated herein by
reference. If either configuration 94 or 96 shorts or fails causing
abnormal current draw, PTC devices 24 will increase in resistance
until configurations 94 or 96 are disconnected from feed through
conductors 20 so that other circuitry coupled to feed through
conductors 20 is unaffected by the faulty components. If at any
time the malfunction is corrected, current draw through bypass fuse
10 will decrease thereby decreasing the temperature of PTC device
24. As the temperature returns to normal bypass fuse 10 will become
conductive and circuit configurations 94 or 96 will once again be
coupled to feed through conductors 20.
[0043] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 disclose a further embodiment of the
present invention which provides both in-line and bypass fuse
protection. Beginning with FIG. 11, a schematic representation of
in-line and bypass fuse 100, bypass connection 106 is electrically
coupled in series with PTC device 108 which is then coupled to feed
through termination conductor 110. In-line connection 104 is
directly coupled to feed through termination conductor 110 which is
coupled to PTC devices 114 and 108. Such a configuration allows,
for example, a power supply to be coupled to in-line connection 104
to provide power through in-line connection 102 for external
circuitry. Bypass connection 106 allows additional circuitry to be
tied off of the same power supply. The configuration shown in FIG.
11 provides for total protection in that current overloads, whether
coupled in series or in parallel with a circuit connected to
in-line connection 104 are now provided with automatically
resettable fuse protection.
[0044] In-line and bypass 100, in both FIGS. 9 and 10, is shown in
cross section and, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is preferred to
be circular in shape. Describing the device vertically from top to
bottom, in FIG. 10, bypass connection 106 is coupled to outer
casing or termination band 124 which is a conductive metallic
surface encircling the outer circumference of in-line and bypass
fuse 100. Bypass connection 106 is optional as external circuitry
could be coupled directly to conductive termination band or casing
124 with the same effect. Within outer termination band 124 is
contact electrode 110 having a U-shaped cavity which maintains a
barrier between outer casing 124 and inner area 126. PTC material
112 is maintained between and separates outer termination band 124
and contact electrode 110. In-line connection 102 is then coupled
to contact electrode 118 and disposed within inner area 126 with
PTC material 116 covering contact electrode 118 thereby creating a
barrier between contact electrode 118 and contact electrode 110.
FIG. 10 shows in-line and bypass fuse 100 in cross section fully
assembled. Under normal operating conditions, power coupled to
in-line connection 102 will be made available at in-line connection
104 and bypass connections 106 due to the normally conductive state
of PTC materials 112. When such material is normally conductive,
in-line and bypass fuse 100 is essentially a single electrical
node.
[0045] FIG. 12 shows component 120 which is an embodiment of the
present invention having both in-line and bypass fuse protection,
as shown in FIGS. 9-11, combined with a differential and common
mode filter. Component 120 is comprised of differential and common
mode filter 122 having a plurality of apertures 156 in which
in-line and bypass fuses 100 and 100' are within. Each fuse 100 and
100' includes first in-line connections 102 and 102' and second
in-line connections 104 and 104' which are conductors allowing feed
through coupling of electrical signals through the fuses. Fuse 100
and 100' also include bypass connection 106 and 106'.
[0046] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of component 120,
shown in FIG. 12, with differential and common mode filter 122
coupled to in-line and bypass fuses 100 and 100' wherein each fuse
provides protection between first and second in-line connections
102 and 104 and protection between second in-line connection 104
and bypass connection 106. The configuration shown in both FIGS. 12
and 13 allows differential and common mode filtering between two
conductors while at the same time providing bypass protection if
differential and common mode filter 122 fails. Conduction between
first and second in-line connections 102 and 104 is not affected by
failure of filter 122 and at the same time protection is provided
for each conductive path due to in-line fuse protection. The same
relationships apply to in-line connections 102' and 104' although
not described. The configuration provides all the benefits of
differential and common mode filtering while providing its own
failsafe, protection i.e., if the filter fails it takes itself
completely out of the circuit allowing for continued operation of
the external circuitry coupled to the filter with the only
consequence being the elimination of the differential and common
mode filtering. This type of protection is necessary in
applications in which filtering is desirable but not necessary and
failure of the filtering otherwise would disable the application
all together. An example of this is in the automotive industry.
Automobiles today increasingly rely upon electronics and
microcomputer control of everything from engine performance to
stereo systems to power windows and locks. Because of the increased
amount of electronics within automobiles, the need for differential
and common mode filtering has increased exponentially over the
years. In the past, if the filter failed the potential for an
overall short circuit existed which in some cases would completely
disable the vehicle leaving the driver stranded. Because of this
obvious drawback, the need for filter protection with the ability
to remove itself from its host upon failure is extremely desirable.
Not only could a driver or user be left stranded but electrical
failure during operation could cause other systems to fail such as
power steering or power brakes thereby placing the user in extreme
danger. Of course, automobiles are not the only use for the present
invention, all types of electronic circuits such as those used in
airplanes, trains and heavy equipment all can benefit from the
combination of differential and common mode filtering with in-line
and bypass fuse protection.
[0047] FIG. 14 shows an exploded perspective view of the physical
architecture of differential and common mode filter 300.
Differential and common mode filter 300 is described fully in
Applicant s currently pending application, Ser. No. 08/841,940,
which has already been incorporated by reference. Nevertheless, the
filter will be described herein in some detail. Filter 300 is
comprised of a plurality of common ground conductive plates 304 at
least two electrode plates 306a and 306b where each electrode plate
306 is sandwiched between two common ground conductive plates 304.
At least one pair of electrical conductors 302a and 302b is
disposed through insulating apertures 308 or coupling apertures 310
of the plurality of common ground conductive plates 304 and
electrode plates 306a and 306b with electrical conductors 302a and
302b also being selectively connected to coupling apertures 310 of
electrode plates 306a and 306b. Common ground conductive plates 304
consist entirely of a conductive material such as metal in the
preferred embodiment. At least one pair of insulating apertures 308
are disposed through each common ground conductive plate 304 to
allow electrical conductors 302 to pass through while maintaining
electrical isolation between common ground conductive plates 304
and electrical conductors 302. The plurality of common ground
conductive plates 304 may optionally be equipped with fastening
apertures 312 arranged in a predetermined and matching position to
enable each of the plurality of common ground conductive plates 304
to be coupled securely to one another through standard fastening
means such as screws and bolts. Fastening apertures 312 may also be
used to secure differential and common mode filter 300 to another
surface such as an enclosure or chassis of the electronic device
filter 300 is being used in conjunction with.
[0048] Electrode plates 306a and 306b are similar to common ground
conductive plates 304 in that they are comprised of a conductive
material and have electrical conductors 302a and 302b disposed
through apertures. Unlike common ground conductive plates 304,
electrode plates 306a and 306b are selectively electrically
connected to one of the two electrical conductors 302. While
electrode plates 306, as shown in FIG. 14, are depicted as smaller
than common ground conductive plates 304 this is not required but
in this configuration has been done to prevent electrode plates 306
from interfering with the physical coupling means of fastening
apertures 312.
[0049] Electrical conductors 302 provide a current path which flows
in the direction indicated by the arrows positioned at either end
of the electrical conductors 302 as shown in FIG. 14. Electrical
conductor 302a represents an electrical signal conveyance path and
electrical conductor 302b represents the signal return path. While
only one pair of electrical conductors 302a and 302b is shown,
Applicant contemplates differential and common mode filter 300
being configured to provide filtering for a plurality of pairs of
electrical conductors creating a high density multi-conductor
differential and common mode filter.
[0050] The final element which makes up differential and common
mode filter 300 is material 318 which has one or a number of
electrical properties and surrounds the center common ground
conductive plate 304, both electrode plates 306a and 306b and the
portions of electrical conductors 302a and 302b passing between the
two outer common ground conductive plates 304 in a manner which
completely isolates all of the plates and conductors from one
another except for the connection created by the conductors 302a
and 302b and coupling aperture 310. The electrical characteristics
of differential and common mode filter 300 are determined by the
selection of material 318. If a dielectric material is chosen
filter 300 will have primarily capacitive characteristics. Material
318 may also be a metal oxide varistor material which will provide
capacitive and surge protection characteristics. Other materials
such as ferrites and sintered polycrystalline may be used wherein
ferrite materials provide an inherent inductance along with surge
protection characteristics in addition to the improved common mode
noise cancellation that results from the mutual coupling
cancellation effect. The sintered polycrystalline material provides
conductive, dielectric, and magnetic properties. Sintered
polycrystalline is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,629
which is herein incorporated by reference.
[0051] Still referring to FIG. 14, the physical relationship of
common ground conductive plates 304, electrode plates 306a and
306b, electrical conductors 302a and 302b and material 318 will now
be described in more detail. The starting point is center common
ground conductive plate 304. Center plate 304 has the pair of
electrical conductors 302 disposed through their respective
insulating apertures 308 which maintain electrical isolation
between common ground conductive plate 304 and both electrical
conductors 302a and 302b. On either side, both above and below, of
center common ground conductive plate 304 are electrode plates 306a
and 306b each having the pair of electrical conductors 302a and
302b disposed there through. Unlike center common ground conductive
plate 304, only one electrical conductor, 302a or 302b, is isolated
from each electrode plate, 306a or 306b, by an insulating aperture
308. One of the pair of electrical conductors, 302a or 302b, is
electrically coupled to the associated electrode plate 306a or 306b
respectively through coupling aperture 310. Coupling aperture 310
interfaces with one of the pair of electrical conductors 302
through a standard connection such as a solder weld, a resistive
fit or any other method which will provide a solid and secure
electrical connection. For differential and common mode filter 300
to function properly, upper electrode plate 306a must be
electrically coupled to the opposite electrical conductor 302a than
that to which lower electrode plate 306b is electrically coupled,
that being electrical conductor 302b. Differential and common mode
filter 300 optionally comprises a plurality of outer common ground
conductive plates 304. These outer common ground conductive plates
304 provide a significantly larger ground plane which helps with
attenuation of radiated electromagnetic emissions and provides a
greater surface area in which to dissipate over voltages and
surges. This is particularly true when plurality of common ground
conductive plates 304 are not electrically coupled to circuit or
earth ground but are relied upon to provide an inherent ground. As
mentioned earlier, inserted and maintained between common ground
conductive plates 304 and both electrode plates 306a and 306b is
material 318 which can be one or more of a plurality of materials
having different electrical characteristics.
[0052] FIG. 15 is a schematic representation demonstrating that
filter 300 provides a line-to-line capacitor 320 between and
coupled to electrical conductors 302a and 302b and two
line-to-ground capacitors 322 each coupled between one of the pair
of the electrical conductors 302 and inherent ground 324. Also
shown in dashed lines is inductance 326 which is provided if
material 318 is comprised of a ferrite material, as described in
more detail later.
[0053] FIG. 16 shows a quasi-schematic of the physical embodiment
of filter 300 and how it correlates with the capacitive components
shown in FIG. 15. Line-to-line capacitor 320 is comprised of
electrode plates 306a and 306b where electrode plate 306a is
coupled to one of the pair of electrical conductors 302a with the
other electrode plate 306b being coupled to the opposite electrical
conductor 302b and separated by common ground plate 304 thereby
providing the parallel plates necessary to form two capacitors in
series. Center common ground conductive plate 304 acts as inherent
ground 324 and also serves as one of the two parallel plates for
each line-to-ground capacitor 322.
[0054] The second parallel plate required for each line-to-ground
capacitor 322 is supplied by the corresponding electrode plate 306.
By carefully referencing FIG. 14 and FIG. 16, the capacitive plate
relationships will become apparent. By isolating center common
ground conductive plate 304 from each electrode plate 306a or 306b
with material 318 having electrical properties, the result is a
capacitive network having a common mode bypass capacitor 320
extending between electrical conductors 302a and 302b and
line-to-ground decoupling capacitors 322 coupled from each
electrical conductor 302a and 302b to inherent ground 324.
[0055] Inherent ground 324 will be described in more detail later
but for the time being it may be more intuitive to assume that it
is equivalent to earth or circuit ground. To couple inherent ground
324, which center and additional common ground conductive plates
304 form, one or more of common ground conductive plates 304 are
coupled to circuit or earth ground by common means such as a
soldering or mounting screws inserted through fastening apertures
312 which are then coupled to an enclosure or grounded chassis of
an electrical device. While differential and common mode filter 300
works equally well with inherent ground 324 coupled to earth or
circuit ground, one advantage of physical architecture of is filter
300 that a physical grounding connection is unnecessary.
[0056] Referring again to FIG. 14, an additional feature of
differential and common mode filter 300 is demonstrated by
clockwise and counterclockwise flux fields, 314 and 316
respectively. The direction of the individual flux fields is
determined and may be mapped by applying Ampere's Law and using the
right hand rule. In doing so an individual places their thumb
parallel to and pointed in the direction of current flow through
electrical conductors 302a or 302b as indicated by the arrows at
either ends of the conductors. Once the thumb is pointed in the
same direction as the current flow, the direction in which the
remaining fingers on the person's hand curve indicates the
direction of rotation for the flux fields. Because electrical
conductors 302a and 302b are positioned next to one another and
represent a single current loop as found in many I/O and data line
configurations, the currents entering and leaving differential and
common mode filter 300 are opposed thereby creating opposed flux
fields which cancel each other and minimize inductance. Low
inductance is advantageous in modern I/O and high speed data lines
as the increased switching speeds and fast pulse rise times of
modern equipment create unacceptable voltage spikes which can only
be managed by low inductance surge devices. When used as a filter
the low inductance results in a high self resonant frequency which
is desirable in high speed data lines and other high frequency
applications.
[0057] FIG. 17 is a more detailed view of the apparatus shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13. Differential and common mode filter 130, which is
similar to the filter described in detail in FIGS. 14,15, and 16,
is comprised of common ground conductive plates 132,136 and 140
with first and second electrode plates 134 and 138 coupled to the
common ground conductive plates so that each electrode plate is
maintained between two common ground conductive plates. Although
not shown in FIG. 17, FIG. 18 shows that each common ground
conductive plate and electrode plate includes a plurality of
apertures 156 in which in-line and bypass fuses 100 and 100' are
disposed within and then coupled to differential and common mode
filter 130. As shown in FIG. 17, in-line and bypass fuse 100
includes insulating surface 146 and bypass connection 144 wherein
insulating surface 146 prevents all but a predetermined plate from
being electrically coupled to first and second in-line connections
102 and 104. Once fuse 100 is disposed within the selected aperture
of differential and common mode filter 130, bypass connection 144
will be electrically coupled to second electrode plate 138. Fuse
100' is identical to fuse 100 but is inserted within a
predetermined aperture of filter 130 in the opposite direction as
that of fail open fuse 100 so that bypass connection 144' will be
electrically coupled to first electrode plate 134.
[0058] This arrangement will now be described in more detail with
reference to FIG. 18 which shows filter 130 in cross section.
Differential and common mode filter 130 is comprised of common
ground conductive plates 132,136 and 140 with first electrode plate
134 maintained between the two common ground conductive plates 132
and 136 and second electrode plate 138 maintained between common
ground conductive plates 136 and 140. While the numerous plates are
maintained adjacent each other they do not actually come in contact
with one another but instead are surrounded by material 152 having
predetermined electrical properties as described earlier. The outer
edges of each common ground conductive plate are coupled to common
ground 154 which electrically connects each of the common ground
conductive plates to one another. Common ground 154 allows for a
more distributed inherent ground for filter 130. In-line and bypass
fuse 100 is disposed within filter 130 through aperture 156.
Although not shown, bypass connection 144 of in-line and bypass
fuse 100 is electrically coupled to first electrode plate 134 by
coupling 150. Coupling 150 is used in various places and may
consist of any material that will maintain electric and physical
coupling between two conductive surfaces. In the preferred
embodiment coupling 150 is a type of solder or weld. Fuse 100' is
also disposed within filter 130 through an aperture 156 such that
bypass connection 144', not shown, is electrically coupled to
second electrode plate 138 via a coupling 150. An alternate
approach to interconnecting the common ground plates consists of
using conductive rod 158 disposed within filter 130 to provide a
means of connecting a true ground to the various common ground
conductive plates. As shown in FIG. 18, coupling 150 is used to
electrically connect conductive rod 158 to each of the common
ground conductive plates 132,136 and 140. Again not shown, inline
and bypass fuses 100 and 100' could consist entirely of a
conductive surface as opposed to having bypass connection 144 and
insulating surface 146. In this type of configuration the
individual common ground conductive plates and unwanted electrode
plate would have insulation within apertures 156 thereby only
allowing electrical coupling between the desired fuse and a
predetermined electrode or common ground conductive plate. In this
alternate embodiment, in-line and bypass fuse 100 and 100' would be
identical and could be inserted within differential and common mode
filter 130 in the same direction or orientation as opposed to
opposite directions from one another. Although the principals,
preferred embodiments and preferred operation of the present
invention have been described in detail herein, this is not to be
construed as being limited to the particular illustrative forms
disclosed. It will thus become apparent to those skilled in the art
that various modifications of the preferred embodiments herein can
be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *